No more 'almost' for Central

November 23, 2006|BRUCE MARSHALL Tribune Staff Writer

"Last year we were an 'almost team,'" said Elkhart Central boys basketball head coach Mike Drews. "We hung in games right until the end, but we couldn't get that one basket to win or made that one turnover that cost us the game. We lost a lot of close games." That was last year. "This year we think we can have a good season," said Drews, in his ninth year as head coach. "We'll be young but all our young players have a year of varsity experience. We hope we can win some of the close games we lost last year because of inexperience. Last year we took our lumps and we hope it pays off this year." The Blue Blazers lost only two players from last year's 3-19 team -- Brock Welch and Jason Crocker. Returning is senior Nate Palmer, a 6-foot-1 shooter. Phillip Pettis, a 6-5 center, is in his first year with the Blazers after transferring from Jimtown. Junior Chris Roberson gets a starting nod as do 6-1 sophomore Josh Robinson and 6-3 classmate Mark Sutter. "Our first man off the bench is another sophomore, Ron Dandridge," said Drews. "We don't have that one guy who we can jump on his back and have him carry us to a win. We have good quickness and we'll pressure on defense and look to fast break first when we get the ball. But we need to learn when it's not there (the fast break) to pull back and set up in the half court." Elkhart Central opened its season Wednesday at Northridge. "Overall though, we are optimistic that we can have a good year," Drews concluded.